Locking means for the movable jaw of a slidable side jaw wrench



Nov. 22. 1955 M. G. PARENT ETAL 2,724,301

LOCKING MEANS FOR THE! MOVABLE JAW OF A SLIDABLE SIDE JAW WRENCH Filed Jan. 4, 1954 FIG. 5

M URI E GEO gE NT Lg ls PHILIP VDIQN ATTORN EY United States Patent dralJFall's, R. 1.; said Louise Philip Voisin m'ssignor to said Maurice George Parent Application January 4, 1954, Serial 'No. 401,832

2 Claims. (Cl. 81-145) This invention relates to movable jaw wrenches and more particularly to the means for holding the movable jaw in selected positions.

An object of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism for the movable jaw in a wrench which presents a large area between the jaw and locking mechanism for strengthening that contact area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick and easy adjustment mechanism for a movable jaw in a jaw adjustable wrench.

mechanism. Attempts have been made to increase this area of contact. This has been done by having several points of contact. The usual construction being a cylindrical surface engaging a fiat surface.

The present invention contemplates the engagement of a series of flat teeth on the movable jaw with a series of flat teeth on the adjusting mechanism which is detent operated for quick and easy adjustment manipulation. The fiat teeth providing a very large area of engagement. Thus adding great strength to the movable jaw. The detent providing a mechanism sensitive to the touch for adjustment.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts through the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the new and improved wrench.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the new and improved wrench head.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the wrench head, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the wrench head, taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the mechanism shown in the previous figures, as adapted to a different style wrench head from that shown in the previous figures.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the form shown in Figure 5 and taken along line 6--6 of Figure 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 reference character 10 indicates the conventional body of a jaw adjustable wrench having one jaw 11 integrally formed as one extremity of body 10 with a handle 9 integrally formed as the other extremity. A guide way 12 is formed in body 10.

Adjustable jaw 13 is provided with a web 14 having serrations 15. Web 14 is shaped to be slidably mounted "ice in guide way '12. Body 10 is provided with a cavity having one edge adjacent guide way 12. Ablock '17 smaller in size than cavity 16 so thatit can beirecipro'cated in said "cavity is provided with serrations '18 at one "end which are engageable and disengagea'ble with serrations 15 and with a spring retaining orifice Z'Ointh'e other end.

The sides of block 17 areknurl'ed or roughened toL'p'resen't a finger grip. An elongated slot 21 is provided in blotfk 1'7. A spring retaining 'bore 23 is providedin body '10 along with a threaded area 24 in body '10 adjacent 'one side of cavity land a clearance area25 opposite *ihrea'd'ed area 24 in the side opposite threaded area 24. A stud 26 is adapted topass through clearance area 25, elongated slot 21 and be engaged in threaded area 24. A spring. 27 is positioned with one end in spring retaining orifice 2i and with the other end in spring retaining bore 23. Spring 27 yieldingly forces serrations 18 on block 17 into engagement with serrations 15.

in operation block 17 will be actuated. in cavity 16 toward handle 9 against the tension of spring 27. Elongated slot 21 embracing stud 26 and serrations 18 disengaging serrations 15. Adjustable jaw 13 with web 14 sliding in guide 12 will be positioned in a desired relation to jaw 11. When pressure from a finger grip is released from block 17, spring 27 will force serrations 18 into engagernent with serrations 15. Thus it will be seen that the multiple number of serrations ,each having a face as wide as block 17 and web 14 engage each other with a very wide area. This construction adds great strength to adjustable jaw 13 when it is placed in stress.

The modified form shown in Figures 5 and 6 comprises a wrench body 10A having a jaw 11A formed at one end and a handle 9A formed at the other end or extremity. A guide way 30 provided with a cavity 16A is pivotally mounted to body 10A by means of a pin 31 and has a lower projection 32 which embraces body 10A for limiting the pivotal movement in one direction. A block 17A in the form of a finger in this modified form is pivotally mounted to the guide way 30 by means of stud 26A. Serrations or teeth 18A are provided on one end of block 17A and a spring retaining orifice 20A in the other end. A spring retaining bore 23A is provided in body 10A. A spring 27A is positioned between spring retaining bore 23A and spring retaining orifice 20A.

An adjustable jaw 13A provided with a stem portion 14A has serrations or teeth, 15A provided therein. Adjustable jaw 13A is slidably mounted in guideway 30 with serrations 15A engageable and disengageable with serrations 18A.

Guideway 30 is conventional in this type of wrench known as a Stilson wrench in the trade. Blocks 17A acting as a detent arm provided with a serrated face is considered novel to this invention along with the serrations in the stem portion 14A.

In operation adjustable jaw 13A is slidably mounted in guideway 30. The engagement of serrations 15A with serrations 13A holds adjustable jaw 13A in the desired position in relation to jaw 11A. Block 17A pivoting on stud 26A against the tension of spring 27A disengages serrations 15A from serrations 18A to permit adjustable jaw 13A to be slidably positioned in guideway 30. Conversely, spring 27A acting against block 17A forces and holds the serrations 15A and 18A in engaged position.

Having shown and described by way of example preferred embodiments of the present invention we do not wish to limit ourselves to the exact constructions shown, because structural changes can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

What we claim is:

l. in a slidable outer jaw wrench, a body provided with a jaw at one extremity, a handle in the opposite extremity, a saddle guideway pivotally mounted on said body, a movable jaw having a stem portion provided with serrations and slidably mounted in said saddle guideway, a block having serrations at one end and pivotally mounted on said saddle guideway, a spring interposed between said body and said block yieldingly forcing the serrations in said block into engagement with the serrations in said stern portion.

' 2; In a slidable outer jaw wrench, a body provided with a jaw at one extremity, a handle in the opposite extremity, a saddle guideway pivotally mounted on said body, a movable jaw having a stem portion provided with teeth and slidably mounted in said saddle guideway, a block pivoted intermediate its ends to said guideway and provided with teeth at one end, a spring interposed between said body and said block for swinging said member about v r 4 its pivot to force engagement of the teeth with the teeth said stem portion,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS in said block 

